I know both Gwen Hallsmith and John Hollar to be well-intentioned public servants. This may be a case of “he said, she said,” or a gross misunderstanding, but it cannot be said often enough that First Amendment rights of free speech must be protected. Ms. Hallsmith has the right to express her opinion.

I found it interesting that Mr. Hollar said in an email, according to this article, that his concern “was not about public banks” but the consolidation of agencies such as the Vermont Housing Finance Agency and the Municipal Bond Bank to accomplish that goal. He said his concern was that such a consolidation would eliminate jobs in Montpelier when he wants to “create positions.”

If a state bank will eliminate jobs, that would save taxpayer money, right? Efficiency is important in government; it accomplishes the goal at less cost. This is a compelling reason, among others, to investigate establishing a state bank in Vermont.

I hope that Mr. Hollar and Ms. Hallsmith can make amends and continue working together in the best interests of the people of Montpelier.